Winds Challenge Crews On Cascadel Fire Near North Fork

NORTH FORK – Crews are on scene of a vegetation fire in Cascadel Woods, dealing with high winds and steep terrain.

At about 9 p.m., reports came in of a tree into a house on Cascadel Drive, hitting a power line.

As engines were responding to that scene, they saw a fire burning along Cascadel Road, the dirt road that takes off to the right just inside the gate.

The first unit at scene reported the fire about 1/2 acre with 30 mph sustained winds. Though the fire was burning in vegetation and no homes were immediately threatened, the wind was driving sparks in all directions, and three more Type 3 engines were requested, plus two crews out of Mt. Bullion and a dozer.

The south end of Cascadel Road was blocked by a downed tree that had to be removed before equipment could gain free access. Some engines made it to the scene from the north end.

As additional engines were responding from the Oakhurst and Ahwahnee areas, reports came in of a roll-over crash blocking Highway 49 at Harmony Lane and one engine was diverted to that incident.

At the same time, a report of a large tree across Road 274 near Brown’s Ditch forced another engine crew to grab their chainsaws and move it out of the roadway so they could proceed to the Cascadel Fire. A Forest Service unit arrived shortly to assist.

By 10:20 p.m., the Incident Commander at the Cascadel Fire called the fire at about one acre, with good progress on hose lays. Winds continued to blast the hillside sending sparks into the air.

As of 10:30 p.m., the IC is confident they will have it contained with no additional resources needed.

An advisory alert was sent out from the Sheriff’s office, and deputies responded to the incident, though no evacuations were ordered.

PG&E arrived at the residence where the tree had fallen at about 10:23 p.m. and reported the top of a tree had broken off and fallen into a house. There was no damage to the power lines, and no disruption to surrounding homes.

UPDATE: The Cascadel Fire was contained by 11:09 p.m. The cause is under investigation.